Is periodontal disease a risk factor for developing severe Covid-19 infection? The potential role of Galectin-3

Impact statement There could be a close relationship between periodontal diseases (PDs) severity and Covid-19 infections. This relationship could be caused by Galectin-3-mediated increased immune response and increased viral attachment. Keeping PDs under control and maintaining rigorous oral hygiene during this troubled Covid-19 pandemic period is very important. Patients with older age and pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity are in the higher risk group for developing severe Covid-19 infections. The inflammatory pathways that are involved in these conditions are the same pathways that we see in periodontal diseases (PDs). This raises a significant question: Is PD a pre-existing condition that can increase the risk of developing severe Covid-19 infection? Several studies have shown that Galectins play a key role in the homeostasis of immune cells, and recently, a relationship was found between Covid-19 and Galectin-3 (Gal-3).It has been determined that an important area in the spike protein of Coronavirus-19 is almost exactly the same as the morphology of Gal-3, and these spike proteins are critical for the entry of the virus into host cells. We suspect that there is enough evidence to support a close relationship between PDs severity and Covid-19 infections. There is accumulating evidence to suggest a relationship between the severity of PD and the risk of infection with Covid-19, which requires further investigation. This relationship could be caused by Gal-3-mediated increased immune response and increased viral attachment. In this context, we want to emphasize the importance of keeping PD under control by maintaining rigorous oral hygiene during this troubled Covid-19 pandemic period. We would also like to point out the possibility that having PD may be a pre-disposition toward developing a severe Covid-19 infection.

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The potential role of tea in periodontal therapy: An updated review

Current Drug Discovery Technologies ◽

10.2174/1389200221666200127114119 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

Author(s):

Ali Forouzanfar ◽

Hamideh Sadat Mohammadipour ◽

Fatemeh Forouzanfar

Keyword(s):

Green Tea ◽

Potential Role ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Periodontal Diseases ◽

Herbal Remedies ◽

World Population ◽

Tea Leaves ◽

The World ◽

Green Tea Leaves

: Periodontal diseases are highly prevalent and can affect high percentage of the world population. Oxidative stress and inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Nowadays, more attention has been focused on the herbal remedies in the field of drug discovery. Green tea is an important source of polyphenol antioxidants, it has long been used as a beverage worldwide. The most interesting polyphenol components of green tea leaves that are related with health benefits are the catechins. Taken together this review suggested that green tea with its wide spectrum of activities could be a healthy alternative for controlling the damaging reactions seen in periodontal diseases.

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Bacterial Cyclic Dinucleotides and the cGAS–cGAMP–STING Pathway: A Role in Periodontitis?

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10060675 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 675

Author(s):

Samira Elmanfi ◽

Mustafa Yilmaz ◽

Wilson W. S. Ong ◽

Kofi S. Yeboah ◽

Herman O. Sintim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Periodontal Disease ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Host Cells ◽

Type I Interferons ◽

Type I ◽

Vaccine Adjuvants ◽

Cyclic Dinucleotides ◽

Sting Pathway

Host cells can recognize cytosolic double-stranded DNAs and endogenous second messengers as cyclic dinucleotides—including c-di-GMP, c-di-AMP, and cGAMP—of invading microbes via the critical and essential innate immune signaling adaptor molecule known as STING. This recognition activates the innate immune system and leads to the production of Type I interferons and proinflammatory cytokines. In this review, we (1) focus on the possible role of bacterial cyclic dinucleotides and the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and the regulation of periodontal immune response, and (2) review and discuss activators and inhibitors of the STING pathway as immune response regulators and their potential utility in the treatment of periodontitis. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched with the terms “STING”, “TBK 1”, “IRF3”, and “cGAS”—alone, or together with “periodontitis”. Current studies produced evidence for using STING-pathway-targeting molecules as part of anticancer therapy, and as vaccine adjuvants against microbial infections; however, the role of the STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway in periodontal disease pathogenesis is still undiscovered. Understanding the stimulation of the innate immune response by cyclic dinucleotides opens a new approach to host modulation therapies in periodontology.

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis adhesins: potential biomarkers as anti-tuberculosis therapeutic and diagnostic targets

Microbiology ◽

10.1099/mic.0.082206-0 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 160 (9) ◽

pp. 1821-1831 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Viveshree S. Govender ◽

Saiyur Ramsugit ◽

Manormoney Pillay

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Host Cells ◽

Tuberculosis Control ◽

Surface Molecules ◽

Host Pathogen Interaction ◽

Bacterial Aggregation ◽

Insight Into

Adhesion to host cells is a precursor to host colonization and evasion of the host immune response. Conversely, it triggers the induction of the immune response, a process vital to the host’s defence against infection. Adhesins are microbial cell surface molecules or structures that mediate the attachment of the microbe to host cells and thus the host–pathogen interaction. They also play a crucial role in bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation. In this review, we discuss the role of adhesins in the pathogenesis of the aetiological agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We also provide insight into the structure and characteristics of some of the characterized and putative M. tuberculosis adhesins. Finally, we examine the potential of adhesins as targets for the development of tuberculosis control strategies.

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Haptoglobin and Its Related Protein, Zonulin—What Is Their Role in Spondyloarthropathy?

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10051131 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 1131

Author(s):

Magdalena Chmielińska ◽

Marzena Olesińska ◽

Katarzyna Romanowska-Próchnicka ◽

Dariusz Szukiewicz

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Free Radicals ◽

Immune System ◽

Potential Role ◽

Acute Phase Protein ◽

Related Protein ◽

Functional Differences ◽

Phase Protein ◽

Its Polymorphism

Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase protein which supports the immune response and protects tissues from free radicals. Its concentration correlates with disease activity in spondyloarthropathies (SpAs). The Hp polymorphism determines the functional differences between Hp1 and Hp2 protein products. The role of the Hp polymorphism has been demonstrated in many diseases. In particular, the Hp 2-2 phenotype has been associated with the unfavorable course of some inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Its potential role in modulating the immune system in SpA is still unknown. This article contains pathophysiological considerations on the potential relationship between Hp, its polymorphism and SpA.

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Immunity and its role in periodontal diseases

Romanian Journal of Stomatology ◽

10.37897/rjs.2017.1.4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

pp. 24-27

Author(s):

Irina Dumitrache ◽

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Periodontal Disease ◽

Clinical Efficacy ◽

Periodontal Diseases ◽

Adult Population ◽

Host Immune Response ◽

Immunomodulatory Therapy ◽

Common Chronic Disease

Periodontal disease is one of the most common chronic disease, with a prevalence between 5% and 30% in adult population aged 25-75. In the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, the host immune response has a great importance and in the last years it has been underlined the role of immunomodulatory therapy in the management of periodontal disease. Septilin is a herbal immunomodulatory with clinical efficacy proven in the periodontal disease.

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Silver Nanoparticles as Potential Antiviral Agents

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13122034 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 2034

Author(s):

Zubair Ahmed Ratan ◽

Fazla Rabbi Mashrur ◽

Anisha Parsub Chhoan ◽

Sadi Md. Shahriar ◽

Mohammad Faisal Haidere ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Potential Role ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Antiviral Agents ◽

Host Cells ◽

Characterization Methods ◽

New Horizons ◽

Bacteria And Fungi ◽

The Impact

Since the early 1990s, nanotechnology has led to new horizons in nanomedicine, which encompasses all spheres of science including chemistry, material science, biology, and biotechnology. Emerging viral infections are creating severe hazards to public health worldwide, recently, COVID-19 has caused mass human casualties with significant economic impacts. Interestingly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibited the potential to destroy viruses, bacteria, and fungi using various methods. However, developing safe and effective antiviral drugs is challenging, as viruses use host cells for replication. Designing drugs that do not harm host cells while targeting viruses is complicated. In recent years, the impact of AgNPs on viruses has been evaluated. Here, we discuss the potential role of silver nanoparticles as antiviral agents. In this review, we focus on the properties of AgNPs such as their characterization methods, antiviral activity, mechanisms, applications, and toxicity.

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The complex, bidirectional role of extracellular vesicles in infection

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst20200788 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joni Renee White ◽

Priscila Dauros-Singorenko ◽

Jiwon Hong ◽

Frédérique Vanholsbeeck ◽

Anthony Phillips ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Bacterial Pathogens ◽

Host Cells ◽

Signalling Molecules ◽

Host Pathogen ◽

Domains Of Life

Cells from all domains of life release extracellular vesicles (EVs), packages that carry a cargo of molecules that participate in communication, co-ordination of population behaviours, virulence and immune response mechanisms. Mammalian EVs play an increasingly recognised role to fight infection, yet may also be commandeered to disseminate pathogens and enhance infection. EVs released by bacterial pathogens may deliver toxins to host cells, signalling molecules and new DNA to other bacteria, and act as decoys, protecting infecting bacteria from immune killing. In this review, we explore the role of EVs in infection from the perspective of both the pathogen and host, and highlight their importance in the host/pathogen relationship. We highlight proposed strategies for EVs in therapeutics, and call attention to areas where existing knowledge and evidence is lacking.

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The role of galectin-1 and galectin-3 in the mechanisms of T-cell immune response dysregulation in colon cancer

Bulletin of Siberian Medicine ◽

10.20538/1682-0363-2020-3-76-82 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 76-82

Author(s):

V. S. Poletika ◽

Yu. V. Kolobovnikova ◽

O. I. Urazova ◽

O. A. Vasileva ◽

A. I. Dmitrieva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colon Cancer ◽

Immune Response ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Immune Response ◽

Galectin 3

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Review on the Role of Host Immune Response in Protection and Immunopathogenesis during Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Infection

Journal of Immunology Research ◽

10.1155/2020/2496713 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Teshager Dubie ◽

Yasin Mohammed

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Host Immune Response ◽

Immune Defense ◽

Host Cells ◽

Infected Host ◽

Major Public Health Problem

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health problem worldwide and spreads to human via the bite of sand flies during blood meal. Following its inoculation, the promastigotes are immediately taken up by phagocytic cells and these leishmania-infected host cells produce proinflammatory cytokines that activate other immune cells and these infected host cells produce more cytokines and reactive nitrogen and oxygen species for efficient control of leishmania infection. Many experimental studies showed that resistance to infection with leishmania paraites is associated with the production of proinflammatory cytokines and activation of CD4+ Th1 response. On the other hand, vulnerability to this parasitic infection is correlated to production of T helper 2 cytokines that facilitate persistence of parasites and disease progression. In addition, some studies have also indicated that CD8+ T cells play a vital role in immune defense through cytokine production and their cytotoxic activity and excessive production of proinflammatory mediators promote amplified recruitment of cells. This could be correlated with excessive inflammatory reaction and ultimately resulted in tissue destruction and development of immunopathogenesis. Thus, there are contradictions regarding the role of immune responses in protection and immunopathogenesis of CL disease. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to review the role of host immune response in protection and its contribution to disease severity for CL infection. In order to obtain more meaningful data regarding the nature of immune response to leishmania, further in-depth studies focused on immune modulation should be conducted to develop better therapeutic strategies.

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